Located just 5 to 6 miles south of Billings, Montana, nestled in a sandstone bluff near Bitter Creek and the Yellowstone River, Pictograph Cave State Park preserves a culturally significant, 23-acre gathering place once steeped in mystical power for American Indians. You can explore a complex of three natural shelters: Pictograph, Middle, and Ghost caves, where Montana’s earliest professional archaeological studies began in 1937. As you walk the park's paved trails, you will find interpretive signs detailing local geology, vegetation, and ancient history.
Inside Pictograph Cave, the largest cave and the only one containing rock art, you can view 106 visible pictographs painted between 200 and 2,145 years ago. These historic red, white, yellow, and black rock paintings depict animals, warriors, rifles, and a 2,100-year-old turtle, documenting Native American stories across thousands of years. Archaeological digs here uncovered over 30,000 artifacts and 20,000 animal remains, including bison bones, stone tools, moccasins, and seashell jewelry acquired from Pacific Coast Indians.
Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964, the park today offers a visitor center and picnic facilities, allowing you to reflect on centuries of human history, ancient trade, and archaeological discoveries set against Montana's scenic natural landscape.
What to see at Pictograph Cave
- 106 ancient rock paintings depicting animals, warriors, rifles, and a 2,100-year-old turtle
- Three sandstone cave shelters: Pictograph, Middle, and Ghost caves
- Over 30,000 historic artifacts uncovered during early archaeological excavations
- Paved walking trails equipped with educational interpretive signs
- On-site visitor center and dedicated picnic facilities
Visiting tips
Take advantage of the park's picnic facilities after exploring the paved trails and visitor center.
How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Daytime
How to get there & what’s nearby
Pictograph Cave is easy to reach on Billings’s public transport, and pairs naturally with ZooMontana and St. Patrick's Co-Cathedral. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Billings travel guide.
See the full Billings travel guide for where to stay, the best time to visit and the top things to do.